Heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat

ABSTRACT

A heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat is provided, which is configured to circulate low-temperature water into inlet and outlet water circulation units and a heat exchanger tube, so as to be heat exchanged with the waste warm water. As a result, the number of configurational elements is minimized to thereby have a simple structure and thus the temperature of the low-temperature water is efficiently heightened irrespective of an installation place of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat includes inlet and outlet circulation water units which are formed to have a predetermined shape so that externally incoming low-temperature water is guided, supplied and discharged, and at least one heat exchanger tube which circulates the low-temperature water between the inlet and outlet circulation units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat in which low-temperature water is heat-exchanged with waste warm water, and more particularly, to a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat in which the number of configurational elements is minimized to thereby have a simple structure and thus the temperature of the low-temperature water is efficiently heightened.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] From old times, heat exchangers for recollecting waste heat have been developed and used in order to obtain warm water by using thermal energy contained in waste warm water discharged from dye houses, food factories, chemistry factories and so on, or underground water.

[0005] A waste heat recollector for use in a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat was proposed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 256619 on Nov. 26, 2001. Here, the waste heat recollector uses heat exchanging of waste water. Clean water guide tubes each having adrophole are layered in a main body in multiple stages, and waste water paths are formed between the clean water guide tubes in zigzag form. Diaphragm plates are installed at both sides of the clean water guide tubes in order to make the waste water paths communicate with each other. A clean water guide plate is installed in the outside of the diaphragm plates, respectively. Accordingly, clean water incoming to the clean water guide tubes is selectively moved. Also, a waste water inlet tube and a waste water discharge tube are formed in the upper and lower portions of the waste water paths, respectively, and a cold water inlet tube and a warm water discharge tube are formed in the upper and lower portions of one of the clean water guide plates, respectively. As a result, waste water containing heat flows into the waste water paths via the waste water inlet tube and then circulated downwards in zigzag form, and then discharged externally via the waste water discharge tube. Simultaneously, clean water input via the clean water inlet tube is circulated upwards via the clean water guide tube and the clean water guide plate in zigzag form, and then heated. The heated clean water is discharged via the warm water discharge tube.

[0006] In the case of the above-described prior art waste heat recollector, waste water is supplied from top of the waste heat recollector, and falls and circulates via the waste water paths in zigzag form. Meanwhile, clean water is input from bottom of the waste heat recollector and rises up and circulates via the clean water guide tube in zigzag form. Accordingly, clean water is heat exchanged with waste water so that the temperature of the clean water rises up.

[0007] However, since clean water guide tubes are installed in a main body in multiple stages with a predetermined interval in order to secure waste water paths between the clean water guide tubes in the above-described prior art waste heat recollector, the following problems have been exposed. First, since clean water is changed into warm water by heat exchanging of the clean water with waster water in a main body having a predetermined internal content, a heat exchanging capacity is limited and thus it is difficult to obtain a desired amount of warm water. Second, since waste water is directly circulated via waste water paths secured between the clean water guide tubes in the main body, foreign matters are deposited on the paths through which waste water passes, a heat exchanging performance is lowered. Finally, since the entire structure is complicated and the number of constructional elements is unnecessarily increased, an installation cost becomes excessively high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat which is configured to circulate low-temperature water into inlet and outlet water circulation units and a heat exchanger tube, so as to be heat exchanged with waste warm water, in which the number of configurational elements is minimized to thereby have a simple structure and thus the temperature of the low-temperature water is efficiently heightened.

[0009] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat comprising: inlet and outlet circulation water units which are formed to have a predetermined shape so that externally incoming low-temperature water is guided, supplied and discharged; and at least one heat exchanger tube which circulates the low-temperature water between the inlet and outlet circulation units.

[0010] In other words, the heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to the present invention has a simplified structure that the inlet and outlet circulation water units 10 and 20 are connected to each other through the heat exchanger tubes 30, to thereby circulate externally supplied low-temperature water. Accordingly, the internally circulating low-temperature water is heat exchanged with the external waste warm water via the heat exchanger tubes 30, to thereby heat the low-temperature water to become high-temperature water.

[0011] As described above, the heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to the present invention has the following merits. First, since a heat exchanging capacity can be selected by thickness and length of the heat exchanger tubes 30, a desired amount of warm water can be obtained without limit of an internal content. Second, since internally circulated low-temperature water is naturally heat exchanged with external waste warm water via the heat exchanger tubes 30, a phenomenon of lowering a heat exchanging performance due to deposition of foreign matters included in the waste warm water on circulating water paths is prevented. Finally, since the entire structure is simplified and the number of unnecessary constructional elements is decreased, an installation cost is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded plan view showing a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a partially exploded plan view showing a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to a variation of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing essential elements of the heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat;

[0017]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the states of using the heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially exploded plan view showing the heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat 1 according to the present invention includes inlet and outlet circulation water units 10 and 20 which are formed to have a predetermined shape so that externally incoming low-temperature water is guided, supplied and discharged, and heat exchanger tubes 30 which circulate the low-temperature water between the inlet and outlet circulation units 10 and 20. That is, the inlet and outlet circulation water units 10 and 20 receive and discharge externally supplied low-temperature water.

[0022] In this embodiment, the inlet circulation water unit 10 has a cylindrical shape of a predetermined diameter in which a circulation water vessel 10 a is formed. An inlet portion 11 is formed in one side of the inlet circulation water unit 10 and outlet portions 12 are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance. Likewise, the outlet circulation water unit 20 has a cylindrical shape of a predetermined diameter in which a circulation water vessel 20 a is formed. An outlet portion 21 is formed in one side of the outlet circulation water unit 20 and inlet portions 22 are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance. The inlet circulation water unit 10 distributes externally supplied low-temperature water so as to be passed through the heat exchanger tubes 30, and the outlet circulation water unit 20 collects the low-temperature water which has passed through the heat exchanger tubes 30 and whose temperature is increased and discharges out the collected temperature increased water.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a partially exploded plan view showing a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to a variation of the present invention.

[0024] An inlet circulation water unit 10 has a pipe shape of a predetermined length in which a circulation water vesse1 10 a is formed. An inlet portion 11 is formed on a predetermined position in one side in a lengthy direction of the inlet circulation water unit 10 and outlet portions 12 are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance. Likewise an outlet circulation water unit 20 has a pipe shape of a predetermined length in which a circulation water vessel 20 a is formed. An outlet portion 21 is formed on a predetermined position in one side in a lengthy direction of the outlet circulation water unit 20 and inlet portions 22 are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance.

[0025] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, a low-temperature water supply tube 2 is connected to the inlet portion 11 of the inlet circulation water unit 10 via a connection socket 2 a which is threadedly connected with the inlet portion 11 and the low-temperature water supply tube 2, and a warm water supply tube 3 is connected to the outlet portion 21 of the outlet circulation water unit 20 via a connection socket 3 a which is threadedly connected with the inlet portion 22 and the warm water supply tube 3.

[0026] The heat exchanger tubes 30 are connected with the inlet and outlet circulation water units 10 and 20, so that low-temperature water circulating through the heat exchanger tubes 30 can be heat exchanged with external waste warm water.

[0027] In this embodiment, one ends of the heat exchanger tubes 30 are connected with outlet portions 12 of the inlet circulation water unit 10 via connection members 31 which are respectively externally fitted with the outlet portions 12 and the heat exchanger tubes 30, and the other ends of the heat exchanger tubes 30 are connected with inlet portions 22 of the outlet circulation water unit 20 via connection members 31 which are respectively externally fitted with the inlet portions 22 and the heat exchanger tubes 30. Accordingly, the externally supplied low-temperature water is circulated through the heat exchanger tubes 30 and heat exchanged with waste warm water therein.

[0028]FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing essential elements such as a connection member 31 of the heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat. As shown in FIG. 4, the connection member 31 includes an inner connector 31 a which is formed to threadedly connect with the outlet portions 12 of the inlet circulation water unit 10 or the inlet portion 22 of the outlet circulation water unit 20, an outer connector 31 b which is formed to threadedly connect with the outer portion of the inner connector 31 a, and a sealed packing 31 c which is internally fitted with the outer connector 31 b. Accordingly, the heat exchanger tubes 30 can be closely connected with the inlet and outlet circulation water units 10 and 20.

[0029] The heat exchanger tubes 30 are made of a stainless steel corrugated tube “A.” The reason is to enhance a corrosion-proof performance of the heat exchanger tubes 30 which contact waste warm water mixed with chemicals for long to thus prevent the heat exchanger tubes 30 from being easily corroded, and to increase areas of the heat exchanger tubes 30 contacting the waste warm water to thus enhance a heat exchanging efficiency. Further, the heat exchanger tubes 30 made of the stainless steel corrugated tube “A” are bent and spread freely flexibly.

[0030] Thus, as shown in FIG. 5 illustrating a state of using the heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to the present invention, heat exchanger tubes 30 are dipped into a waste warm water vessel 4 containing the waste warm water and low-temperature water passing through the heat exchanger tubes 30 is heat exchanged with the waste warm water. Otherwise, as shown in FIG. 6 illustrating a state of using the heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to the present invention, heat exchanger tubes 30 are buried at a stratum 5 containing the underground water under the ground, and low-temperature water passing through the heat exchanger tubes 30 is heat exchanged with the underground water.

[0031]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, an inlet circulation water unit 10 has a pipe shape of a predetermined length in which a circulation water vessel 10 a is formed. An inlet portion 11 is formed on a predetermined position in one side in a lengthy direction of the inlet circulation water unit 10 and outlet portions 12 are formed in the other side thereof at a lengthy equidistance. Likewise an outlet circulation water unit 20 has a pipe shape of a predetermined length in which a circulation water vessel 20 a is formed. An outlet portion 21 is formed on a predetermined position in one side in a lengthy direction of the outlet circulation water unit 20 and inlet portions 22 are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance. The inlet and outlet circulation water units 10 and 20 are fixed by columns 40 which are perpendicularly installed on the lower portions of the inlet and outlet circulation water units 10 and 20 at the four corners thereof. Also, the heat exchanger tubes 30 which are connected and circulated between the inlet and outlet circulation water units 10 and 20 are installed on front and rear fixing rods 50 which are horizontally installed at the front and rear sides of the four-cornered columns 40 as a set of two rods, respectively. Here, the heat exchanger tubes 30 are arranged neatly and fixed on the front and rear fixing rods 50, as if the former 30 enclose the latter 50. Here, it is preferable that the heat exchanger tubes 30 wound around the front and rear fixing rods 50 are tightly fixed with fixing units 51, respectively.

[0033] Here, one end of the individual heat exchanger tubes 30 are connected to the outlet portions 12 of the inlet circulation water unit 10 via the same connection members 31 as are used in the other embodiment of the present invention, and the other end thereof is connected to the inlet portions of the outlet circulation water unit 20 via the connection members 31.

[0034] As described above, the heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat according to the present invention has a simplified structure that the inlet and outlet circulation water units 10 and 20 are connected to each other through the heat exchanger tubes 30, to thereby circulate externally supplied low-temperature water. Accordingly, the internally circulating low-temperature water is heat exchanged with the external waste warm water via the heat exchanger tubes 30, to thereby increase the temperature of the low-temperature water to become high-temperature water. As a result, a desired amount of warm water can be obtained without limit of an internal content. Also, a phenomenon of lowering a heat exchanging performance due to deposition of foreign matters included in the waste warm water on circulating water paths is prevented, and an installation cost is reduced.

[0035] As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat comprising: inlet and outlet circulation water units which are formed to have a predetermined shape so that externally incoming low-temperature water is guided, supplied and discharged; and at least one heat exchanger tube which circulates the low-temperature water between the inlet and outlet circulation units.
 2. The heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat of claim 1, wherein the inlet circulation water unit has a cylindrical shape of a predetermined diameter in which a circulation water vessel is formed, in which an inlet portion is formed in one side of the inlet circulation water unit and outlet portions are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance, and wherein the outlet circulation water unit has a cylindrical shape of a predetermined diameter in which a circulation water vessel is formed, in which an outlet portion is formed in one side of the outlet circulation water unit and inlet portions are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance.
 3. The heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat of claim 1, wherein the inlet circulation water unit has a pipe shape of a predetermined length in which a circulation water vessel is formed, in which an inlet portion is formed on a predetermined position in one side in a lengthy direction of the inlet circulation water unit and outlet portions are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance, and wherein the outlet circulation water unit has a pipe shape of a predetermined length in which a circulation water vessel is formed, in which an outlet portion is formed on a predetermined position in one side in a lengthy direction of the outlet circulation water unit and inlet portions are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance.
 4. The heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat of claim 1, wherein the inlet circulation water unit has a pipe shape of a predetermined length in which a circulation water vessel is formed, in which an inlet portion is formed on a predetermined position in one side in a lengthy direction of the inlet circulation water unit and outlet portions are formed in the other side thereof at a lengthy equidistance; wherein the outlet circulation water unit has a pipe shape of a predetermined length in which a circulation water vessel is formed, in which an outlet portion is formed on a predetermined position in one side in a lengthy direction of the outlet circulation water unit and inlet portions are formed in the other side thereof at a circumferential equidistance; and wherein the inlet and outlet circulation water units are fixed by columns which are perpendicularly installed on the lower portions of the inlet and outlet circulation water units at the four corners thereof, and the heat exchanger tubes which are connected and circulated between the inlet and outlet circulation water units are installed on front and rear fixing rods which are horizontally installed at the front and rear sides of the four-cornered columns as a set of two rods, respectively, in which the heat exchanger tubes are arranged neatly and fixed on the front and rear fixing rods, as if the former enclose the latter.
 5. The heat exchanger for recollecting waste heat of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger tubes are made of stainless steel corrugated tubes. 